Changing funerary rituals for juveniles at Cortijo Nuevo and Cortijo Coracho, Lucena, Cordoba, Spain, during Late Antiquity

Abstract

Funerary spaces undoubtedly serve as significant markers for comprehending a society’s beliefs, its standard of living, and its social structure. Each society possesses inherent rituals or a series of ceremonies to commemorate the passing of its members, typically rooted in and shaped by its own cultural traditions. This remained consistent even in ancient times.

The transition of beliefs and funeral practices in the Western Roman Empire to those characteristics of the so-called ’barbarian tribes’ following the Empire’s collapse marks a pivotal moment in history. In this study, we will explore the evolution of funeral customs during this era in the town of Lucena, drawing from research conducted at the Archaeological Museum, with a particular focus on juvenile individuals.

The site of Cortijo Nuevo, dating back to the 1st − 4 th century CE, was uncovered during an emergency excavation. Alongside structures for public use, a section of a necropolis was unearthed, containing 25 inhumations of both children and adults. Conversely, the necropolis found at ’Cortijo Coracho’ is associated with a basilica and spans from the 4th to the 8th centuries CE, as determined by burial practices. In this instance, we are examining 297 less elaborate inhumations, with no specific graves designated for children.

We observe a noticeable shift in the structures from elaborate burials designed specifically for children to more modest ones, where multiple children are interred within adult graves. This transition underscores a pivotal aspect in comprehending the changes across both historical periods, as evidenced by their material culture, particularly in the context of funerary rituals.